In December of 2012, the company for whom I worked had to close its doors due to the economic downturn. I found myself unemployed, but interestingly enough, and for the most part, neither my husband nor I felt worried about the loss of income. I don't want it to sound like it was all wonderful, because there were some thorns among the bed of roses, but the Lord always provided and those provisions were most often unexpected.

Now, at the beginning of 2016 I am on the verge of going back to work. I am going to be working at the Library as a Literacy Assistant.

As I thought and prayed about this job today, I suddenly realized that it appears that I am repeating family history in an odd sort of way.

I remember as a child in Santa Rosa, California, my maternal grandmother, Alta Kerr, worked for the children's department in our local library. It was Grandma Alta that helped me develop a love of books. She introduced me to C.S. Lewis and his book, The Magician's Nephew, where I read about the adventures of Digory and Polly. She also introduced me to Where the Wild Things Are. I loved both of those children's books.

And in a strange way, it seems I am sort of repeating my paternal grandfather's history as well. My grandfather, James Frazer Sr., was an orphan, and (from what I understood) lived between living in an abusive situation with a relative, and being a street kid in Laredo. My knowledge of his history is rather sketchy, but his childhood was terribly hard; that much I do know.

In his youth a Baptist preacher named George Maxim took him in, gave him a job and helped him with his education. Brother George also introduced my grandfather to Jesus. The result was that my Grandpa Frazer was a Baptist preacher himself, especially helping the poorer people of the community of Falfurrias Texas.

Because of Brother George, I have a Christian heritage I treasure and I also have a love to write and create which I treasure. Grandpa Frazer was a poet, and I feel most connected to him.

While I am not sure exactly what I will be doing in this new job, I know it is going to present an opportunity to do for others what Brother George did for my Grandfather. I feel the Lord brought me to this job at just the right time for me.

I have to admit that from 2012 I have enjoyed every day of my unemployment even though we've had to make cut backs. As I said earlier, the Lord made provisions for us, and this job is just another example of His provisions; but I believe the Lord not only helps us as individuals, but the help He gives to us also benefits others. I am praying that my execution of my duties as a Literacy Assistant helps awaken a latent creativity in someone else, as Brother George's influence awoke creativity in my grandfather.

As I have enjoyed my time unemployed, I am now eagerly looking forward to starting this new job. It's time. I have loved being alone, I am now ready to be among people again.

This new job doesn't mean I will not continue to pursue the making of our film, Shots in the Dark, it only means that I will be working as well as making the movie. With God, all things are possible. Because of that, I know our movie, too, will be accomplished.

And so I sing, with Gene Autry, "Whoptee ti I oh, it's back to work I go, back in the saddle again".

Author

Coleen Frazer-Hambrick is a writer and photographer who lives in Oklahoma with her husband. They have raised three boys and now have four grandboys. Along with writing and photography, Coleen and her husband are active members of a Wesleyan church.